A mummy located in a Peruvian tomb last year with an elongated head and just three fingers on each hand has a different anatomical structure to humans, according to claims made by Russian scientists.

A team of researchers from St Petersburg have released preliminary analysis results on a human-like figure that was found near Nazca, in southern Peru, and dates back to around the 5th century.

In the analysis which has drawn scepticism across the globe, Professor Konstantin Korotkov of the Russian National Research University claims the mummy – which appears to have been an adult woman and has been named Maria – has the same number of chromosomes as a human, but is anatomically different.

Russian scientists claim this mummy, found near Nazca in Peru last year, may not have been human (Gaia). (Gaia)Researchers say the humanoid Peruvian mummy, which has an elongated head, has a different anatomical structure to the human body (Gaia). (Gaia)

In addition to Maria scientists are also studying another mummy called Vavita, who is believed to have died when she was just nine-months-old, and four more 70cm-large, male mummies.

“Right now we are making a detailed analysis to see if the shape of the position of all the chromosomes, of all the amino acids, coincides with ours,” he told Russian news agency Sputnik.

“Each of the little mummies has two arms, two legs, a head, a pair of eyes and a mouth. Tomographic scans reveal their skeletons. The tissue has biological nature and their chemical composition indicates that they are humans.

The Peruvian mummy also has just three fingers and toes on each limb and rounded ribs (Gaia). (Gaia)Professor Konstantin Korotkov said the Peruvian mummy, which is believed to be from around the 5th century, may have been extra-terrestrial or possibly from a prehistoric tribe (Gaia). (Gaia)

“Their DNA features 23 pairs of chromosomes, just like we have. All the four of them are males, each with a Y-chromosome. They appear human but they are not. Their anatomic structure is different.”

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The scientists claimed that the mummy’s rib structure is an unusual, rounded shape with some semicircular bones included, it has just three fingers per hand and a head that elongates at the back.

“Most surprisingly, the mouth cavities are there but the lower jaws are not flexible and present a single whole with the rest of the skull,” Mr Korotkov said.

Scientists continue to examine the genetic make-up of the Peruvian mummy and have inquired about moving it to Russia to continue the work (Gaia). (Gaia)The Peruvian mummy was uncovered from a tomb in Nazca, in the country's south, last year and is being examined along with five other figures (Supplied). (Supplied)

“Maria and Vavita could have been representatives of a certain race which had possibly reached a stage of advancement much earlier than we did. Maybe thousands of years earlier.”

While Mr Korotkov also raised the idea that the figures could potentially have been from an extra-terrestrial background, he said there is also just as much a chance of them being from prehistoric tribes.

"They were three-fingered and this genetic feature could make itself evident in future generations,” he said.

The mummies were found in the arid desert region around Nazca, which is popularly known for the Nazca lines (AAP). (AAP)

“By the way, three-fingered creatures can be seen on petroglyphic drawings found in Peru.”

The preliminary results come despite the figure appearing far better preserved than other historically-excavated mummies found in areas around the world.

Researchers plan to continue examining the genetic make-up of the figures and have inquired about possibly moving them from Peru to Russia to advance the work.